How to (gently) April fool my students?

Subject: How to (gently) April fool my students?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 12:36 PM

I teach folk dancing at a local Waldorf school. Tomorrow I have third graders (8-9-yr olds) and sixth graders(11-12yrs). In third we've been Israeli dancing: grapevine steps, etc. In 6th it's been contra and English Country dancing. Both classes are great but have several students who can be a handful. I would love to come up with a way to start each class in a silly way that will delight them but not create utter chaos ( I have many years of teaching and calling experience and don't have a concern about managing them, but rule #1 of behavior management is Don't Give Them Fuel For Their Fire!).

So I want to do something silly, that acknowledges the date, keeps them moving, and maybe even fits within the "folk dancing" genre.


Any ideas, o wise Catters?

Subject: RE: How to (gently) April fool my students?
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 12:59 PM

Old Man's Morris (it has got a real name which I can't remember offhand).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AivC25VtPzo

Do remind them though that the backside-kicking bit is done in both directions!

Subject: RE: How to (gently) April fool my students?
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 01:12 PM

Gotta start off with a disclaimer here. I don't do dancing, so I may be way off base here and suggesting something ridiculous?

Couldn't you start by telling the class you are going to show them a particularly demanding step (for their level)and that it is best learned (initially) by wearing your shoes on the wrong feet as it makes the step easier to learn.

Subject: RE: How to (gently) April fool my students?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 02:13 PM

Here we go looby loo
the Hokey Pokey

Take the Farmer in the Dell and make it modern.

The principal in the dell
takes the secretary
...takes the teacher
   takes the parent
...takes the student takes the bus

hi ho the derry-oh, the bus stands alone.

A refinement - make the 'job titles' as long as possible

Such as the school secretary takes the administrator in charge of maintenance

Subject: RE: How to (gently) April fool my students?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 02:20 PM

The first reasonably "gentle joke" that came to mind for me was one used in cub scouts/boy scouts in which the "victims" are taught a new/traditional "pledge." In a dancing class it could be the chorus for the song to a "traditional" dance (that you've just created) from an unspecified culture(?). Body movements (dance steps?) that place the participant in at least mildly awkward positions are a common accompaniment

The pledge is:

"oWAH taGOO siAM" (repeated until someone catches on and translates it for the rest of them)

There is the danger that some of your kids may have heard of it since it is an "oldie," but often those "in the know" will keep quiet until a "new learner" blasts it out.

There are some other variations on the "pledge," but the ones used for Frat initiations were mostly too crude to be worth remembering.

John

Subject: RE: How to (gently) April fool my students?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 06:47 PM

These are all wonderful! I wish I thought I could get away with the "Old Man's Morris" but the kick-in-the-arse manoevre would not be apporved in the Waldorf World.

But I was planning to teach some morris in the near future, so the "shoes on the wrong foot" idea just might work for the introductory lesson...

And the Okey Cokey (UK style) will be a perfect way to end the class! I love it!

I had another though which I'll probably do with the 6th grade. When there aren't enough boys to go around I have a few girls take the "gent's" role, and give them a necktie. This has caused neckties to be highly coveted! I was thinking of wearing a necktie, khaki trousers, white shirt, and introducing myself as Ms. Aldrich's brother.

I wiah I had 21 neckties, because I would have invented a dance that required everyone to wear one! I didn't plan this soon enough!

Oh, well, we'll have ourselves a bit of fun tomorrow!